Air traffic control audio captured the final seconds before an American Airlines flight and U.S. military helicopter collided near Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night.
As the passenger flight from Wichita, Kansas, approached Ronald Reagan National Airport, tower personnel can be heard directing the Black Hawk helicopter to pass behind the plane.
“PAT-25 do you have the CRJ in sight?” a controller says to the helicopter. “PAT-25 pass behind the CRJ.”
Additional air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net reveals the helicopter crew had the flight “in sight” and then requested “visual separation,” which is when an aircraft assumes responsibility for maintaining a safe distance. Seconds later, both aircraft collide over the Potomac River, killing all passengers and crew.
“Tower, did you see that?” a voice says over the radio before air traffic controllers begin hurriedly redirecting flights.
With files from CNN and The Associated Press